Cyclist #19: Hero maker

Another issue, another huge post-TDU hangover and another stunning 132-page edition filled with aspirational features that we hope make you glad to be a cyclist. We know it gets us excited. More importantly, we hope that reading our publication inspires you to ride further and (maybe) faster than ever before. It’s been a huge summer of cycling Down Under but the season has just begun. Bring it on!

From the editor

A couple of years ago, I made a New Year’s resolution to never again make any New Year’s resolutions. As far as New Year’s resolutionsgo, it was one of the easier ones to keep. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t made any plans. I’ve got plenty of those for 2016. A plan is better than a resolution, because when a plan falls apart you can simply come up with another plan rather than beating yourself up over your pitiful lack of willpower.

So what are my plans for 2016? Well, for starters, I’m planning to follow a stricter training regime that will be highly structured and progressive, building in intensity over the next few months so that when summer comes I’ll be the human equivalent of a racing greyhound – nothing but sinew and muscle and blistering speed. Energy drink companies will clamber over each other to be my sponsor.

That’s Plan A. Of course, should that not come to fruition, there’s always Plan B. That’s where I aim to get at least one decent ride and a couple of training sessions per week, and perhaps (but probably not) drink a little less beer. And if all else fails, there’s Plan C: simply get out for a ride whenever a window of time presents itself and just enjoy the feeling of turning my legs.

My favourite plans, however, are the ones where I ponder the places I’m going to visit when those precious moments of holiday time appear. Will I keep it local – possibly the hills of Adelaide, where I can do my best to channel the feats of Simon Gerrans? Will I head to South East Asia – maybe to the cycling wonderland that is Taiwan? Or will I finally make that trip further afield, to the Alps or Dolomites? If only there were some kind of magazine that could inspire me by suggesting some amazing places to visit. Perhaps with pictures…